Humidifier for internal-combustion engines



June 23, 1925.

O. Z. FRAZER HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July '7,1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l O. Z. FRAZIER HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES JuneA 23, 1925.

Filed July '7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il' I I'hill Il', i.

.liliana ff Y Z] noe n To@ 0, Z. [Frazier tfozum Patented June 23,1.9.25.A

PATENT OFFICE.

DEVILLE Z. FRAZIER, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

HUMIDIFIER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

. Application iled `Tuly 7,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ORVILLE Z.l FRAZIER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Grand'Rapids, in the county of Kent and Statelof Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHumidifiers for Internal-Combustion Engines, vof which the following isa specication.

The present invention relates to a device for converting water intovapor, and for conveyingit to the hydro-carbon intake pipe of a gasengine at a point intermediate the carburator and the intake manifold tobe ultimately discharged with the hydro-carbon vapor into the explosionchamber of the engine.

@ne of the principal features of this invention resides in a simple andcompact water vapor generating apparatus for quickly and completelyvaporizing the Water, and which apparatus may be conveniently arrangedon the motor frameor body of an engine of the ordinary type.

` Further features reside in the particular construction and arrangementof the water tank, the vaporizing coil with its water conducting andvapor return tubes, the peculiar nozzle and jet steam or vapor dischargeandthe manner in which the latter is connected with the hydro-carbonintake pipe.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa view, partly in side elevation and partly in section of myimprovement as applied to the intake and exhaust manifold of an internalcombustion engine of conventional form,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken thru a portionl of theintake manifold on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig.

Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation of the-improvement asapplied particularly to engines of the Ford type.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

It is well known, especially to those skilled in'the construction andoperation of internal combustion engines, that water va-Y por used inconjunction with the hydrocarbon vapor wil not only provide acombustible mixture which results in a more smoothly running motor butwill tendtoward the revention and elimination of carbon deposlts on thespark plugs, on the walls 1922. Serial No. 573,450.

ofthe explosion chamber, the head of the piston and around the valvesand valve seats, all of which detract from an efficiency of operation.

It is to overcome the objections above referred to that I have designedthe present construction for injecting into the hydrocarbon vapor,quantities of steam or water vapor in amounts proportionate to theamount of hydro-carbon vapor which is taken into the explosion chamber.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings by numeralsof reference 2 represents the exhaust manifold of an internal combustionengine of the ordinary type, having parts 4 in communication with theexhaust space of the engine and secured to the engine block thru theflanged supports 5. As this arrangement is well known, furtherdescription thereof is here unnecessary.

The vertical lntake pipe 6 which extends upwardly from the carburator(not shown) communicates with the intake manifold at 8 thru a flangedjoint 10, the particular construction of which as thus far pointed outbeing also well known in the art. Intermediate its connection with thecarburator and with the intake manifold, the intake pipe 6 is dividedand provided with a pair of joint flanges 11 which are spaced apartv adistance sufficient to receive therebetween,

an intermediate flange 12, all of which are clamped into a unitarystructure, affording a continuous passage thru the intake pipe, thru themedium of bolts 14, gaskets 15 being interposed betweenmating facesSuitably mounted on the engine block, l

and preferably by a bracket 24. attached by arms 25 to the points ofconnection of the exhaust manifold supports 5, is a water tank 26 havingconnected with the bottom, and in communication with the interiorthereof, by a suitable form of joint 28, an outlet pipe 29 which leadsto the exhaust ipe 2 where it is formed into la coil 30 clamped to theface of said pipe 2 thru the medium of a metal band or strap 32. T

The return pipe 29 from the coil 30 is connected with the bottom of thetank 26 at 28' bya` suitable form of joint, the pipev 29 being incommunication with a tube 35A rising vertically within the tank andhaving its upper outlet above the normal level of the liquid. Thearrangement thus far described permits the water conducted to the coil30 bythe outlet pipe 33 to become highly heated tlfru transference ofheat from the exhaust pipe to said coil, the water being converted intosteam, in which condition it is conducted by the return pipe 29 to the'riser tube 35 from which it is discharged into the tank 26.

For the purpose of conducting the steam or water vapor from the interiorof the tank 26 to the intake pipe leading to the intake manifold, Iprovide a tube 38 connected at one end with the nipple 22 and at theother end by a .suitable coupling 40 with the bottom of the tank, saidcoupling having a threaded terminal lextending upwardly thru the bottomof the tank, and onto which threaded" terminal is screwed the lower endof a'vapor inlet tube 42, the upper open end of which is normally abovethe level of the liquid.

Ity will thus be seen that during operation of the engine, upon everyintake or suction stroke, a quantity of water vapor, proportionate tothe quantity' of hydrocarbon vapor will be drawn with the latter intothe explosion chamber after first being intimately 4admixed therewith atits point of induction into the intake pipe 6.

'For the purpose of indicating to the operator of the vehicle, thevamount of water contained within the tank 26, I arrange therein, a float44, the guide stem of which passes upwardly thru an apertured collar 46in the top of said tank. A filling opening closed by a plug is alsoprovided,

but not shown.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the exhaust manifold is indicatedat 50 and the exhaust pipe at 51, the water vaporizing coil 30 beingsubstantially similar tol that shown in Figure 1, but being arrangedsuch that the coils extend longitudinally of the exhaust pipe linsteadof transversely there of, the specific mannerr of mounting the coilbeing within the choice of the owner of the vehicle or the mechanic whoinstalls the device.

The principal distinction between the arrangement shown in this figureand that in Figure 1 resides in the fact that in lieu of mounting thetankl upon an independent bracket, I provide the water or steam intakeduct in the form of tubular bracket 52 having a central longitudinalpassage 54, one end of said bracket being formed with an elbow 56communicating thru the lateral passage 59 with the lateral opening 2l inthe flange member 12. `A clean out plug 6() may be provided to affordaccess to said passages 59 and 12. At its opposite end, the tubularbracket 52 is provided with a lateral, upward tulnilarcxtension 62 incommunication with the interiorvof the tank thru the vapor inlet tube42, clean out plugs 64 being also pn vided to afford access to thepassage in th lateral extension 62 and the bore of the bracket.

In the present embodiment, the tank is formed of a glass cylinder 65clamped thru the medium of`a central tie coil 66 between the head plate68 and the bottom plate 70, which latter is preferably integral with thelateral extension 62 of the tubular bracket 52 altho such constructionis not absolutely essential, it being necessary, however, that a rigidjoint and waterproof maintained at this point. also arranged between theends of the cylinder and the top and bottom plates and a filling opening74 provided in the top plate.

The connection of the inlet and outlet tubes 33 and 29, the riser tube35 and their respective connections with the tank shown in Figure 3 aresubstantially similar to the arran ement shown in Figure l.

VVhlle I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that variations in details may be madewithout departing from the spirit thereof.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

The combination with an internal coinbustion engine and awater tanksupported adjacent the exhaust manifold thereof, a conduit incluling twosubstantially parallel legs communicating with the water tank and anintermediate portion formed with a series of communicating U-shapedparts, all of which and the adjacent ends of the parallel legs beingcurved longitudinally to embrace the exhaust manifold, a clampencircling the exhaust manifold and engaging the intermediate portion,and a steam conducting pipe leading from the water tank to the intakemanifold of the engine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ORVILLE Z. FRAZIER.

connection be Gaskets 72 arel

